ALEX Lesson Plans

Title: So You Want to Be President? Let's Elect a President: A Classroom Election Wiki Project
Description:
This project-based learning project extends classroom learning with a variety of multimedia tools to conduct an engaging election campaign for the Presidency. Students form political parties, write a platform, and conduct a campaign for the Presidency. Party platforms are presented to the class and embedded on a election wiki where each party has its own campaign page for their candidate. Parties use a variety of web tools to conduct the multimedia online campaign and create their candidate's web page. The project concludes with the election of one of the candidates.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USG (12) 12: Evaluate constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States, including checks by the executive branch on other branches of government and powers, duties as head of state and head of government, the electoral process, and the Twenty-fifth Amendment.

Subject: Social Studies (12), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: So You Want to Be President? Let's Elect a President: A Classroom Election Wiki ProjectDescription: This project-based learning project extends classroom learning with a variety of multimedia tools to conduct an engaging election campaign for the Presidency. Students form political parties, write a platform, and conduct a campaign for the Presidency. Party platforms are presented to the class and embedded on a election wiki where each party has its own campaign page for their candidate. Parties use a variety of web tools to conduct the multimedia online campaign and create their candidate's web page. The project concludes with the election of one of the candidates.

Thinkfinity Lesson Plans

Title: The First American Party System: U.S. Political Parties -- The Principle of Legitimate Opposition
Description:
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from EDSITEment, students explore critical factors leading to the development of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties. They reflect on the essential elements of an organized political party.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USG (12) 10: Evaluate roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.

Thinkfinity Informational Materials

Title: The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden Resources
Description:
A list of the presidents, a time line of presidential candidates, a summary of the military service of presidents as well as a bibliography and web sites related to the presidency are the resources included in the online exhibition entitled The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USG (12) 10: Evaluate roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.

Subject: Social StudiesTitle: The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden ResourcesDescription: A list of the presidents, a time line of presidential candidates, a summary of the military service of presidents as well as a bibliography and web sites related to the presidency are the resources included in the online exhibition entitled The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.Thinkfinity Partner: SmithsonianGrade Span: K,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Voting: The Acme of Reform
Description:
Paper balloting easily led to fraud. The reform of voting methods during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is the focus of this section of the online exhibition entitled Vote: The Machinery of Democracy , from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. As the electorate of the United States increased due to immigration and as women claimed their right to vote, the need for better and more secure ballots became necessary. Students will examine objects, images, and historical media that illustrate the need for more honest and secure voting procedures.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USG (12) 11: Evaluate constitutional provisions of the legislative branch of the government of the United States, including checks by the legislative branch on other branches of government.

Subject: Social StudiesTitle: Voting: The Acme of ReformDescription: Paper balloting easily led to fraud. The reform of voting methods during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is the focus of this section of the online exhibition entitled Vote: The Machinery of Democracy , from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. As the electorate of the United States increased due to immigration and as women claimed their right to vote, the need for better and more secure ballots became necessary. Students will examine objects, images, and historical media that illustrate the need for more honest and secure voting procedures.Thinkfinity Partner: SmithsonianGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Harpweek: Explore History
Description:
HarpWeek provides electronic access to Harper's Weekly, the illustrated 19th-century Journal of Civilization from 1857-1912. Find primary sources with articles, editorials, news stories, biographies, literature, and even advertisements, that shaped and reflected public opinion in this era.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USG (12) 10: Evaluate roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.